Comics Relief: The Tim Burton-style BATMAN Comic That Almost Was

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Time for your Wednesday edition of Comics Relief, and today’s column will be a bit of a bummer for all you fans who grew up with Tim Burton’s Batman films. Read on for more info…

The world of Tim Burton’s Batman films could have come to comics

With theirBatman ’66 comic series behind them, you’d think that DC Comics would be all over a Batman comic set in the world of another huge media version of the Dark Knight–namely, Tim Burton’s blockbuster 1989 film, and its 1992 follow up Batman Returns. In fact, yours truly suggested to super-fan Kevin Smith in an interview last year that he should be the one to do a “Batman ’89” comic, since he loves that movie so much.

While Smith didn’t end up doing it, creators Joe Quinones and Kate Leth pitched a Batman ’89 comic to DC, who (foolishly if you ask me) passed on it. Quinones has shared some details and proof-of-concept art from the proposal, writing on his blog the following description:

“Our story would have picked up the threads left by Tim Burton’s Batman Returns. We would have seen the return of Selina Kyle/ Catwoman as well as introductions to ‘Burton-verse’ versions of Robin, Barbara Gordon/Batgirl, Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy. It also would have showcased the turn of Billy Dee Williams’ Harvey Dent into Two-Face.”

You can see some art from his proposal below. Hopefully DC reconsiders this pitch at some point, because with all the people who grew up with that version of Batman, you’d think this would be a no-brainer. [Bleeding Cool]

Lumberjanes and Gotham Academy set for inter-company crossover

Two of the biggest hit books featuring young teens over the last couple of years have been BOOM! Studios’Lumberjanes, featuring the young ladies of Miss Quinzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp for Hardcore Lady Types, and DC’s Gotham Academy, which is all about the kids at a boarding school set in a Gotham City filled with crazy villains.

Now the two popular teen-centric comics have been announced as coming together in a crossover mini-series set for later this year, from the creative team of Chynna Clugston-Flores and Rosemary Valero-O’Connell . You can read all the details in our full story by clicking right here: [Nerdist]

Marvel Announces X-Men centric Civil War II mini-series

Back in 2006, The X-Men were mostly kept out of the original Civil War event, only receiving a 4 part mini-series. Ten years later, the same. At Saturday’s In-Store Convention Kick-Off, Uncanny X-Men writer Cullen Bunn announced a Civil War II: X-Men four-issue miniseries with artist Andrea Broccardo.

David Yardin provided the cover image for the first issue, which features the teams fromExtraordinary X-Men and Uncanny X-Men together. Medusa of the Inhumans also features on the cover, which suggests some kind of conflict between the races of Inhumans and mutants will be at the forefront of this story. For more on the X-Men: Civil War II series, read our full story on the subject: [Nerdist]

Image Comics’ Robert Kirkman spoofs Marvel in new Invicible teaser

As a way of poking fun at all these Civil War II teaser images that Marvel keeps putting out, Image Comics’ own Robert Kirkman –no stranger to Marvel, having written titles for the publisher like Ultimate X-Men — has released a teaser poster for his long running series Invincible. This issue celebrates original artist Cory Walker coming back to the ongoing series, who returns with issue #127 in April. You can check out the Invincible/Marvel spoof teaser image below. [Comics Beat]

Veteran comic book artist Paul Ryan passes away at 66

If you were a comics reader back in the ’90s, chances are you were familiar with the work of artist Paul Ryan. Ryan illustrated long runs on books like Avengers, Avengers West Coast andThe Fantastic Four, a book he illustrated for over five years. He also was the artist for Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson’s wedding issue. At DC, he was known for work on comics like The Flash and Superman. Sadly, Ryan passed away this past week at the age of 66.

“It is with sad news I report the passing of my cousin Paul. Chances are you were touched by him in your lifetime as he was the cartoonist for some of the most well known and beloved characters in the world. From Spider-Man, Thor, Iron Man, The Phantom to the Fantastic Four, most of which made it to the big screen and Hollywood. He was a true giant and artist, who achieved more success in his short life than any one of us would ever know in ten lifetimes. He was somebody who showed me how to dream big, but he was also my friend and that was good enough.”

Jim Lee reveals new Suicide Squad writer

Among the comics confirmed for DC Comics Rebirthwill be theSuicide Squad, which should come as a surprise to no one as they have a major motion picture on the way soon. Now DC’s Jim Lee, who is already confirmed as one of the series’ artists, has announced Rob Williams as a series writer, Lee’s collaborator on the upcoming Harley Quinn and the Suicide Squad special. Lee announced Williams’ involvement during his keynote presentation at last weekend’s In Store Convention Kick-Off event. [Newsarama]

All of them have the same phrase on them as the previous posters — “Protect the Future/Change the Future” — which hints at the two sides of the conflict. You can see the latest poster images from Marvel in our gallery below: